Switching apparatus.



C. AALBORG.

SWITCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man DEC.26,1913.

Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET C. AALBORG.

' SWITCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26, 1913.

1 ,253,659; Patented J an. 15, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- www WETNESSES: ,4 I NV ma I A A Y W ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PAiIENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN AALBORG, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC ANI) MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

SWITCHING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cmusrmx AALBORG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switching apparatus, and it has special reference to so called group switches such as are commonly em ployed upon electric cars and locomotives.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a group switch of the character referred to which shall embody a plurality of complete, self-contained and independent unit switches which are assembled in sideby-side relation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a group switch, of the type above indicated, which shall be simple and compact in arrangement, light and durable in construction and effective and reliable in operation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a group switch, the several units of which may be constructed independently to form complete unitary devices which may be readily and cheaply assembled to form a switch group of any desired number of switches.

A still further object of my invention is to simplify and improve the arrangement of parts of a unit switch, whereby vertical space is economized.

Heretofore, group switches have embodied heavy and bulky supporting plates and frames upon which the various parts of the several switches were independently mounted. In such structures, the separate switches were in no sense unit switches, inasmuch as they were not complete in themselves, but their component parts were separate and associated with the supporting brackets and frames independently. Moreover, it was necessary to make new patterns and castings for the supporting brackets and frames whenever the number and capacity of the several switches were varied.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a structure which, by reason of its peculiar arrangement of parts, obviates the difficulties hereinbefore mentioned, and provides a group switch of the true unit switch type having many advantages and Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 808,745.

desirable features of construction which will hereinafter be pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view, partially in section and partially in side elevation, of a device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially in section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view 01 a portion of a device embodying a modified form of my invention, and Fig. 4.- is a detail view of an arcing terminal employed in my structure.

l-ieterring to the drawings, the apparatus shown comprises a plurality of longitudinally disposed supporting rods 1 and 2 which may be carried by suitable brackets 3 or other supporting means 'and upon which a plurality of unit switches 3 are mounted in side-by-side relation. The several unit switches 3 are complete in themselves and a switch group adapted for any character of service or other requirements may be provided by assembling the desired number of unit switches together upon the supporting rods 1 and 2.

T he unit switches 3 are of like construction, and each embodies a body member 5 comprising a supporting arm 6 and a portion 7 integrally associated therewith which constitutes a part of an electromagnetically controlled fluid valve 8, relatively movable cooperating contact members 9 and 10, an operating mechanism 11 for the movable member, a fluid-actuated device 12 for effecting movements of said mechanism and movable contact member, and a blow-out device 13 which is associated with the cooperating contact members for the purpose of extinguishing the are formed at the instant of circuit interruption.

The supporting arm 6 is substantially horizontally disposed and is provided with a cupped or recessed portion 15 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth and also with a clamping portion 16 which is adapted to cooperate with a clamping member 17 and a bolt 18 for the purpose of securing the body member 5 to the supporting rod 1.

The portion '7 of the body member 6 embodies an upwardly projecting member 19 which constitutes a stationary core of an electro-magnet 20, and also an annular shell 21, between which and the core 19, a magnetizing coil 22 is placed. Centrally disposed Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

within the-core 19 is a movable rod or core 23, the lower end of which projects into an opening or valve chamber and is provided with two oppositely disposed valve plugs 26 am: 27. The valve plugs 26 and 27 cooperate with other suitable parts, which will not be described, in view of their common use, for the purpose of admitting and releasing operating fluid to the operating device 12. Communicating with the valve chamber 25, by means of a passage 28, is a supply chamber 29 through which the operating fluid is conducted.

It will be noted that the portion 7 of the body member 5 projects downwardly below the supporting arm 6 and, secured to the inner surface 32 thereof, is a cylinder 33 which comprises av part of the operating device 12. Within the cylinder 38, which may be a casting or constructed of spun sheet metal, or the like, is a movable piston 3i, a piston rod 85 and a spring 36. The operating device 12 is disposed horizontally and the piston rod 35 is adapted for horizontal movement.

A block 38 of insulating material is secured beneath the cylinder 83 and is provided with a plurality of resilient contact fingers 39 which are adapted for co-operative engagement with movable contact members 40, the latter being carried by an arm 41 which is attached to the piston rod 35. The contact members 39 and e20 constitute the interlock switches for the switch group, and control the energizing circuits of the several magnetizing coils 22, in accordance with well known practice.

The stationary switch member 9 is of L- shape and is secured to a block 45 of conducting material which is suitably attached to the supporting arm 6 and is insulated therefrom by means of a plate or board 46 of insulating material. The conducting block 45 embodies an integral projecting portion at, which cooperates with a clip or clamp l8 to form a terminal. for the purpose of making connection to conductors 4:9.

The movable contact member 10 is adapted for substantially vertical movement and is disposed below the stationary contact member 9. Each of the cooperating contact members 9 and 10 is provided with an arcing terminal 50 of sheet material, which is bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The arcing terminal 50 comprises a middle base portion 51. which adapted to rest against a part of the main contact member and two substantially perpendicular side portions 52 which are inclined or curved slightly inwardly to meet at their outer ends, where they are riveted or otherwise united. The faces of the side portions 52 are disposed substantially at right angles to the working face 53 of the main contact member, and one of the edges 54 thereof is in line with the is pivotally connected to an arm 57 of a bell.

crank lever 58 having. another arm 59, the

end of which has a pivotal connection to amember 60. The member 60 is associated with the end of the piston rod by means of an insulating coupling 61, which forms no material part of my present invention. A pin 63, that is associated with the contactearrying member 56, projects through an opening Si in the bell crank lever 58 and thus serves to restrict the relative move ment of the contact-carrying member 50 with respect thereto. he member 56 and its associated movable contact member 10 is resiliently positioned by means of a spring (56 surrounding a rod 67, one end of which projects into an opening 68 in the member 56 and the other end of which has a sliding engagement with a projecting lug G9 on the bell crank lever 58.

The bell crank lever 58, which serves as a connecting link between the vertically movable contact member 10 and the horizontally movable operating device 12, is pivoted, by means of a pin 70, to a block 71 which is insulated by the insulating plate 46 from the supporting arm 6. The block 71 is engaged by a bolt 72 which projects through suitable openings in the plate 46 and the arm 6 and is surrounded by an insulating collar 73 which is disposed in the cupped recess 15 already referred to.

The cooperating contact members 9 and 10 are partially inclosed by an arc chute 77 embodying upper and lower deflecting blocks 78 and T 9 of insulating material and side plates 80 which are suitably attached to the sides of the insulating plate i6. The side plates 80 project below the lower deflecting j block '79, and a blow-out coil 83 is supported between them, directly beneath the contact members 9 and 10. The blow-out coil 83 has a central magnetizable core 8% and a pair of upwardly projecting magnetizable members or arms 85 which are located on the outside of the arc chute side members 80. Each of the arms 85 is provided, at its upper end, with a plate 86 of magnetizable material, the plates being disposed substantially opposite the contact members 9 and 10 for the purpose of concentrating the magnetic flux in the path of the are when the switch is opened. A flexible shunt 87 connects the contact-carrying member 56 to one end (not shown) of the blow-out coil 83, the other end 88 thereof being secured, by means of a bolt 89, to a conducting block 90. A clamping device 91 is also secured to the side of the block 90 and constitutes the other terminal of the apparatus.

Attention is directed to the fact that each of the unit switches 3 is an entirety and independent of the adjacent units, all of the parts bein r carried by the main body member 5. I n assemblin the several unit switches 3 in side-by-side relation, the supply chambers 29 register with one another in a suitable manner to form a continuous supply passage or pipe. It is usually desirable to interpose gaskets or washers 92 of pliable material between adjacent units to insure tight connections. The rod 2 is preferably disposed centrally within the supply passage 29 and serves as a tie-rod for clamping the several units together as well as a supporting member.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the portion 7 of the body member 5 is provided with a, valve chamber 25 and with a supply chamber '29 which communicates directly therewith. Furthermore, in place of employing a single tie and supporting rod 2, I use a plurality of such rods 2 which proj ect through suitable openings in the several members 7 for the purpose intended.

Inasmuch as I have described the construction of my invention with particularity and the general operation of devices of this type is well understood by those skilled in the art, no further description thereof will be given. Since the benefits and advantages of my invention may be secured by devices differing widely in structural details from what I have shown and described. I desire that cnly such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switching device comprising a sup porting arm, an electro-ma netically actuated valve integral with sai arm, cooperating contact members mounted upon said arm, a fluid-actuated device mounted upon said valve, and linkage means for operatively connecting said fluid-actuated device to said contact members.

2. A switching device comprising a supporting arm, an electro-magnet secured to said arm, a valve adapted to be actuated by said magnet and supported by said arm, eooperating contact members supported by said arm, a fluid-actuated device secured to said valve, and means for operatively connecting said device to one of said contact members.

3. A switching device comprising a main supporting arm, a valve embodied in said arm, means supported by said arm for actuating said valve, a cylinder supported by said arm, a piston within said cylinder and switching means supported on said arm and adapted to be actuated by said piston.

4. In a unit switch, the combination with a single member embodying an electro-inagnetically controlled fluid valve, a laterally projecting integral supporting arm, and switching apparatus and an operating linkage therefor mounted upon said arm, of a fluid-actuated operating device disposed substantially at right angles to said electromagnetically controlled fluid valve and adapted to actuate said operating mechanism.

5. In a unit switch, the combination with a single body member embodying an integral supporting arm and an electro-inagneti cally controlled fluid valve disposed substantially at right angles to each other, a fluid operated piston and containing cylinder associated with the valve portion of said body and adapted to be governed by said valve, said cylinder and piston being disposed substantially parallel to said supporting arm, and a switching device and operatin mechanism therefor secured to and suspended from said arm and having an operative conncction to said piston.

6. A unit switch embodying a main supporting arm, cooperating stationary and movable contact members suspended from said arm, a magnet valve having a portion thereof integral with said arm, a fluid-actuated device controlled by said valve for operating said switch, and a blow-out coil suspended from said arm and having magnetizable pole pieces adjacent to the side of said contact members, said valve, fluid-actuatcd device and blow-out coil being disposed in the same plane with the supportin arm.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of Dec.

CHRISTIAN AALBORG. Witneses:

ALVA G. CoRRAo, B. B. Hmns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

